Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” The Pharisees replied, “You are making those claims about yourself! Such testimony is not valid.” Jesus told them, “These claims are valid even though I make them about myself. For I know where I came from and where I am going, but you don’t know this about me. You judge me by human standards, but I do not judge anyone. And if I did, my judgment would be correct in every respect because I am not alone. The Father who sent me is with me. Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as fact. I am one witness, and my Father who sent me is the other.” “Where is your father?” they asked. Jesus answered, “Since you don’t know who I am, you don’t know who my Father is. If you knew me, you would also know my Father.” John 8:12-19
There is, undoubtedly, a disconnect between
knowing about someone and knowing someone. I know a lot about Abraham Lincoln. However, despite what my grandchildren think
about how old I am, I never knew him. In
the same way, I never knew George Washington, Copernicus, Nero, or Adam.
This disconnect, between knowing about
and the intimacy of knowing is the hinge upon which much
misunderstanding hangs, and particularly so in the church of Jesus Christ. Many people know about Jesus and have read
about God. Less know Him
intimately. The Pharisees were religious
leaders and common sense says they should have had an intimate knowledge of God. Yet, Jesus’ final words to them in this
exchange is an indictment of their religion ABOUT God attempting
to replace relationship WITH God. It speaks of the Pharisees’ spiritual blindness.,
which was at the foundation of why these religious leaders were an ill-fit for
their job.
Everything, literally, in matters of faith, is
dependent on knowing God intimately. You cannot pray, give, work-for, worship, or be
a witness in any adequate sense until there is a vital and growing relationship
with God. This is “first base” in having
a walk which is worthy of being called a child of God.
In baseball it is elemental to step up to the plate
and be ready for the pitcher to throw the ball in your direction. Being “ready” means you’re committed to
swinging your bat at the ball to hit it onto (or over) the playing field. That is the first “step” in being a hitter,
as surely as it is the basic understanding about stepping up to a relationship with
God. Just as a player makes himself available
to enter the game, one who would begin to know God steps up to the place where
God throws the ball of relationship. God
did that with Moses, calling from a burning bush; Moses stood on holy ground
that day.[1] God did it
with young Samuel, calling him in the middle of the night; Samuel answered, speak
LORD, your servant is listening.[2]
All the people we read about in Scripture who got
to know God intimately did so because their hearts were
open to God’s ways, and their minds focused on staying ready to be used. Because God does not change in character it is
no different today for you and me.
For You Today
Getting to know
God (and not just about Him) is all about starting with
Jesus. He is the one who stands at home
plate, waiting for your appearance. Knowing
God comes from investing your life (past, present, and all eternity) in knowing
Jesus. That’s when He who is the light
of the world will begin to make sense to your heart and soul. You won’t be just another Pharisee knowing
about God; you’ll know him as one friend knows another.
You
chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!
Title image: Russell Brownworth (own work) W Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation©
For other posts on this text see An Uncomfortable Answer from the
Whirlwind
and Heart's Desire
